Julie's Area
I first became aware of Quentin, as most people did, with the televising of The Naked Civil Servant.
I was a teenager then, but sat transfixed to my TV screen in the realization that I was watching something special about a very special human being.
There was integrity, courage and honesty in the world. (yes I was the typical idealistic teenager then - rebelling against a world which I saw as corrupt and unfeeling/uncaring).
I went out and brought his book.
A couple of years later - I think it was early 1978, I found out by accident (I over heard a couple at the next table talking) that he was doing his own show at the Duke of York's theatre.
I HAD to go and managed to get two tickets for myself and my then fiancee. He didn't understand why I would want to sit and listen to a 'gay-boy' talking for an hour. But he went with me as the supportive guy he was.
From the moment he came on stage he captivated all of us, holding us in the palm of his gentle, perfectly manicured hand. We sat in complete silence hanging on his every word, every nuance and syllable.
I do not know if you would say he had charisma, but he did have 'presence' in abundance.
He did not just preach to us, he engaged us, intellectually and emotionally. He provoked thought and lots of laughs.
On one occasion we laughed when I think he felt he hadn't been deliberately funny and he paused and asked us what we were laughing at.
After his talk we had a break and he came down from the stage and signed autographs and chatted.
I had him sign my copy of The Naked Civil Servant and we exchanged a few sentences. I am not going to tell you what he said. It was private and remains my own unique little piece of Quentin, just for me.
During the break he had cards placed which people could write questions on and afterwards he read them and gave a reply.
In some ways this was an even better change to see the real Quentin as he thought on his feet.
His replies were always original and funny while containing such sound practical advice. I found my admiration for him deepen with each passing minute.
I had written a question, but he ran out of time and didn't get to it.
It was simple - "Should I marry this guy?"
I suspect his answer would have been a definite "No!"
I did marry him and would have even if Quentin had got to my question in time. (I don't agree with all of Quentin's philosophy.)
It was a wonderful evening and one I shall remember for the rest of my life.
Many of his ideas and philosophy have held me in good stead during my life. Often when I have had decisions to make I have wondered what advice he would have given me.
It was years before I became aware that The Naked Civil Servant was not his first book, as it said, but his fifth!
I have now collected all his books, except for Colour In Display - which comes up on eBay occasionally, but goes for hundreds of pounds, and All This And Bevin Too, which I have never seen anywhere.
I have learned so much more about him, a lot of it through your site, and mostly, regrettably after his death.
I didn't know until a couple of years ago that he had a listed telephone no. If I had known while he was alive I would have called, even if just to say 'hi'. I would have gladly paid the international charges.
He truly was a unique human being. The world would be a poorer place if he had not lived in it.
Also read Julie's Favourites ( Quotes, Books and Films )
Julie Durham
England
20 May 2007
I was a teenager then, but sat transfixed to my TV screen in the realization that I was watching something special about a very special human being.
There was integrity, courage and honesty in the world. (yes I was the typical idealistic teenager then - rebelling against a world which I saw as corrupt and unfeeling/uncaring).
I went out and brought his book.
A couple of years later - I think it was early 1978, I found out by accident (I over heard a couple at the next table talking) that he was doing his own show at the Duke of York's theatre.
I HAD to go and managed to get two tickets for myself and my then fiancee. He didn't understand why I would want to sit and listen to a 'gay-boy' talking for an hour. But he went with me as the supportive guy he was.
From the moment he came on stage he captivated all of us, holding us in the palm of his gentle, perfectly manicured hand. We sat in complete silence hanging on his every word, every nuance and syllable.
I do not know if you would say he had charisma, but he did have 'presence' in abundance.
He did not just preach to us, he engaged us, intellectually and emotionally. He provoked thought and lots of laughs.
On one occasion we laughed when I think he felt he hadn't been deliberately funny and he paused and asked us what we were laughing at.
After his talk we had a break and he came down from the stage and signed autographs and chatted.
I had him sign my copy of The Naked Civil Servant and we exchanged a few sentences. I am not going to tell you what he said. It was private and remains my own unique little piece of Quentin, just for me.
During the break he had cards placed which people could write questions on and afterwards he read them and gave a reply.
In some ways this was an even better change to see the real Quentin as he thought on his feet.
His replies were always original and funny while containing such sound practical advice. I found my admiration for him deepen with each passing minute.
I had written a question, but he ran out of time and didn't get to it.
It was simple - "Should I marry this guy?"
I suspect his answer would have been a definite "No!"
I did marry him and would have even if Quentin had got to my question in time. (I don't agree with all of Quentin's philosophy.)
It was a wonderful evening and one I shall remember for the rest of my life.
Many of his ideas and philosophy have held me in good stead during my life. Often when I have had decisions to make I have wondered what advice he would have given me.
It was years before I became aware that The Naked Civil Servant was not his first book, as it said, but his fifth!
I have now collected all his books, except for Colour In Display - which comes up on eBay occasionally, but goes for hundreds of pounds, and All This And Bevin Too, which I have never seen anywhere.
I have learned so much more about him, a lot of it through your site, and mostly, regrettably after his death.
I didn't know until a couple of years ago that he had a listed telephone no. If I had known while he was alive I would have called, even if just to say 'hi'. I would have gladly paid the international charges.
He truly was a unique human being. The world would be a poorer place if he had not lived in it.
Also read Julie's Favourites ( Quotes, Books and Films )
Julie Durham
England
20 May 2007